This year’s debut coincides with the 400th anniversary of Shakepear’s passing and celebrates his legacy.

Captured onscreen for audiences nationwide, the series kicks off on April 24 with the HD debut of Hamlet. The series continues with The Adventures of Periclesbeginning May 8, and with The Taming of the Shrewbeginning May 29.

Distributed this spring by SpectiCast Entertainment, the productions continue the massive initiative by the Stratford Festival’s Artistic Director, Antoni Cimolino, to capture all of Shakespeare’s plays over the next 10 years and bring them to a global audience. Noted producer and director Barry Avrich has captured the productions using 10 cameras and 128 tracks of sound to create an immersive high-definition, surround-sound experience while remaining faithful to the stage version of the productions.

Hamlet – It’s been called the greatest play in the English language and this production “the most complete, most fulfilling, most satisfying in decades of theater-going.” Jonathan Goad is witty and courageous in the title role, but also deeply human. The film excites and surprises at every turn, with a cast of some of the finest classical actors in the world bringing to life the most intense and heart-breaking relationships the stage has ever seen. Directed for the stage by Antoni Cimolino. Directed for film by Shelagh O’Brien. Produced by Barry Avrich.

Ben Carlson, Deborah Hay. Photography by Don Dixon.

The Taming of the Shrew – Shakespeare’s boisterous comedy will stir your emotions with the love story of Katherina and Petruchio, the feisty couple at the center of Shakespeare’s most pointed social commentary. Deborah Hay gives a “performance for the ages” as the Shrew, and Ben Carlson is the perfect counterpoint as her plotting suitor, creating a chemistry that sets the stage alight. Directed for the stage by Chris Abraham. Produced and directed for film by Barry Avrich.

Evan Buliung (centre) as Pericles with members of the company in The Adventures of Pericles. Photography by David Hou.

The Adventures of Pericles – One storm at sea brings love into the life of Pericles, Prince of Tyre, while another snatches it away. This magical production of Shakespeare’s epic tale is “moving from beginning to end.” Evan Buliung gives a sweeping performance, portraying the dashing young prince with verve and swagger, and taking him into his elder years with sorrowful tenderness. A story rarely told, and one you won’t soon forget! Directed for the stage by Scott Wentworth. Produced and directed for film by Barry Avrich.

Additional screening locations will be updated weekly.
The Stratford Festival HD project launched in February 2015 with the release ofKing Lear, King John, and Antony and Cleopatra.

One thought on “Stratford HD Kicks Off Stage-to-Screen Series April 24th”

We love the HD presentations from the Metropolitan Opera and would relish seeing the productions from Stratford. We have often visited Stratford and I feel they produce the best Shakespeare in the world – better than any I have seen. Kudos to them.